Tahseen Al-Yasiri, a member of the board of directors of Al-Police Club, clarified the real reasons behind the decision to close the main VIP section at Al-Shaab International Stadium, ahead of the anticipated match between Al-Police and Al-Zawraa in the 29th round of the Iraqi Premier League.

Al-Yasiri stated in a press statement that the decision to close the VIP section is not related to any organizational or crowd considerations, but was based on a recommendation from the stadium management due to ongoing maintenance work in the internal facilities of the section, which requires some time to be completed fully.

Al-Yasiri said: "We are keen to provide all means of comfort for fans and guests at our matches, but the main VIP section at Al-Shaab Stadium is currently undergoing comprehensive maintenance, and therefore it was decided not to open it during the Al-Zawraa and Al-Police match."

He added: "There is no intention to withhold seats from the fans or reduce capacity; on the contrary, our goal is to ensure an ideal environment for all attendees, and this measure is temporary until the maintenance work is completed."

He concluded: "We hope that the fans of both teams understand this circumstance and cooperate with the organizing authorities to ensure that the match proceeds in a manner befitting the status of both teams."

It is worth noting that the match between Al-Zawraa and Al-Police has garnered significant public and media attention, and it is expected to witness a large turnout despite the closure of the main VIP section, given the alternative arrangements made by the relevant authorities.